Use Wall O Water to protect tomatoes planted early

Q: I want to plant tomatoes and heard an advertisement that it’s time to plant them. Is now the time? — G.G., West Side

A: I do know that tomatoes like to grow in really warm soil and be planted in a place where they’ll receive at least six, better eight, hours of sun a day. With that I worry the soil isn’t warm enough yet to grow happy tomatoes. Also, you are going to need to be ready, willing and able to offer protection for these heat lovers if the temperatures take a nose dive. Remember, the average last frost date for the metro area is April 17. But you can go ahead and plant tomatoes now with some pre-emptive measures.

First, when you are shopping for your plants aim for ones that are short and stout. No long leggy creatures just yet.

Next, consider investing in a tool called Wall O Water and a couple of tomato cages while you’re at it. The Wall O Water is a device that you erect to surround your tomato planting that offers protection from the elements, both wind and low temperatures. If you want to get an early start with chile plants, they’ll work around them, too. So, dampen and rough up the soil where you’re going to plant. Dig the hole that’ll receive the tomato plant a bit deeper than the pot the plant comes in. It’s always better to plant tomatoes deep. If the pot is made of compressed peat and paper, tear away the crown of the pot and be sure to remove the bottom so the root mass can push its way out with more ease. Back fill the hole and tamp the soil down lightly around the tomato remembering to create a moat wall surrounding the planting.

Place the tomato cage over the plant, points up, so it looks like a tepee. Then, slide the Wall O Water over the inverted cage. Think of the cage as a frame supporting the WOW. The WOW has vertical cylinders that you fill three-quarters full of water (hence the name) that when stood and filled create a mini greenhouse. The water collects heat from the daytime sun and emits it during the night, keeping the tomato planted in the middle protected. Standing a Wall O Water without help can be a bit of a wobbly challenge so that’s why I suggest using an upside down cage as a frame. At dusk, sort of tuck the top edge of the WOW in the cage frame and close it with a clothes pin to ensure the heat gets and stays trapped, so to speak. Remember to un-pin the top each morning, unless the weather is too frosty, so the plant can breathe. This configuration will help heat the soil at the base of the planting allowing the tomatoes a leg up on rooting out, but until the soil surrounding the plantings get warmed don’t expect lots of growth just yet.

As the weather allows, collapse the wall of water so it empties and slide it off the frame. Invert the tomato cage, impaling the points into the soil caging the tomato plant creating the support system the tomato will appreciate as it grows. Hang up your WOW (openings down) from the clothes line so it’ll dry out completely and be store-able for use next year. If you are a very responsible gardener you can just go ahead and plant outright. There won’t be gobs of growth until the temperatures warm markedly and you’ll need to remember to cover each planting with an overturned garbage can (or whatever) every night and uncover every morning. Then hope your plants can withstand any damaging winds that might affect them as the season advances. Using a system like the Wall O Water does give you early birds a growing advantage, just be ready to react to any coming weather concerns, OK? Happy Digging In!